MOLTEN SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE : A former Preston Park favourite could be the man to guide Harefield United over the finish line as the Hares start the long run in to the end of the season.

The league leaders were romping home until recently but two defeats and a draw in their last three games has seen their advantage at the top cut from 11 points to six.

Manager Glenn Bellis admitted he is mulling over the idea of freshening up the team and Dwane Williams, who has had two spells with Harefield this decade, could fit the bill.

Williams first left Preston Park to join Willy Wordsworth at Hayes and after two seasons there he played for North-wood, Harefield, Hendon and North-wood again, until he was released by them two weeks ago.

"We have looked at trying to get in a couple of players but we're looking at people who can take us to the next level," said Bellis. "We want people to come in with a bit of experience.

"We're trying to get a couple of loanees just to freshen up but it's a matter of finding the right type of player.

"Dwane's an ex-Harefield lad and whether he's found himself somewhere yet I don't know.

"I don't know whether he would be willing to drop down a league but certainly we would like a player of Dwane's experience in the club and it's something we might pursue."

Bellis spoke to Gazette Sport three weeks ago when he targeted at least nine points from the next four games, against Aylesbury Vale, Hertford, Chalfont and Langford, but the team fell somewhat short by managing only four.

That return is far from disastrous but for a team that went unbeaten in the league for three months only to lose three of their last six, banking only seven points from 18 in the process, it is cause for some concern.

"The results weren't very good," admitted the manager. "We haven't played poorly but the results didn't go our way. We've made some silly errors that have cost us goals.

"The lads maybe have felt a bit of pressure but we're trying to tell them that no one wins the league in January and you've got to keep going.

"Every team in the league will have a bad spell and this is ours now and the quicker we can get out of it the better.

"We've just got to knuckle down, get back to basics and try and get some wins on the board again.

"There are some youngsters in there and the pressure has got to them a little bit I think."

Harefield's nearest challengers are Broxbourne Borough but there are several teams further down the table who have a significant number of games in hand. The Hares have 51 points from 25 games while any of Leverstock Green, Hanwell Town (both 39 from 22), Chal-font St Peter and Biggleswade Town (both 38 from 21) could be breathing down their neck if they win those outstanding fixtures.

However, with the weather causing more matches to be postponed those clubs could soon face a major backlog, especially Chalfont and Biggleswade who are both through to the last 16 of the FA Vase and could potentially have another five games left in that competition.

They already have 20 league fixtures to cram into the final 11 weeks of the season, all of which should help the Harefield cause.

Bellis commented: "It's certainly not helping the chasing pack.

"They'll be playing two or three times a week at the end of the season and it might put pressure on them.

"We just want to get our games out of the way and make it hard for other teams to catch us.

"The Vase puts them further behind so it might work to our advantage but I'd rather we won it through football than the weather."

Harefield are due to resume their title bid away to lowly Brimsdown Rovers on Saturday. Last weekend's visit from Biggleswade United is still to be rearranged.